UNDERSTANDING THE AIR SAMPLING DATA The tables shown below provide screening analyses for the amount of alpha and beta activity that has been detected since the February 14 radiological event. Locations where the air samples are collected are shown in the map at the end of this section. Radioactive contamination at WIPP is measured and reported in a unit called disintegrations per minute (dpm) or in units of Becquerel (Bq). Dose is calculated and reported in millirem. Dose varies based on factors such as length of exposure and distance from the source of the radiation. The average person living in the United States receives an annual dose from exposure to naturally occurring and other sources of radiation of about 620 millirem. A person receives about 10 millirems from a single chest x-ray procedure. For more comparisons, see the millirem comparisons poster. Dose estimates have been calculated based on the low-volume air sampler results. Low-volume air samplers collect samples at a rate of 2 cubic feet/minute to simulate a person s normal breathing rate. The initial dose estimate assumes the person who might be exposed is standing next to the air sampler for 8.5 hours. The subsequent dose estimates assume the person who might be exposed is standing next to the air sampler throughout the sampling period. Dose assessment modeling from the release data shows a potential dose of less than one millirem at the environmental sample locations outside the Land Withdrawal Area. Screening analyses are no longer being routinely performed by DOE. Screening was important when the potential for contamination was high, immediately after the event. Screening results returned to normal background levels in the first months after the February 14 event, so screening was discontinued in order to facilitate more timely laboratory isotopic Laboratory isotopic analysis is the only reliable way of measuring airborne radioactivity at the extremely low levels being encountered. Should isotopic values indicate an increase, screening analyses may be resumed. In addition, beginning in June, samples collected were analyzed by compositing all filters collected during each month. All ambient air sampling continues to indicate levels below the minimum detectable levels the laboratory is capable of identifying. Beginning August 26, 2014, samples will be archived and results reported in the WIPP Annual Site Environmental Report.
Air Sampling - Location 1 Screening Analyses dpm/sample Bq/sample (mrem) 1 8/12/14-8/26/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 7/8/14-8/5/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 6/18/14-7/1/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 6/10/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 6/3/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 5/27/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 5/20/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 5/13/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 5/6/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 4/29/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 4/22/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 4/15/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 4/8/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 4/1/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 3/25/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 3/18/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 3/11/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 3/4/2014 4.2 0.070 0.3 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 2/26/2014 1.9 0.032 0.1 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 1 2/18/2014 2.4 0.040 0.1 0.28 0.0047 0.02 1 2/15/2014 36 0.60 2 52 0.87 3 Note regarding screening results: Screening is no longer being routinely performed by DOE. Screening was important when the potential for contamination was high, immediately after the event. Screening results have returned to normal background levels so screening has been discontinued in order to facilitate timelier laboratory isotopic Laboratory isotopic analysis is the only reliable way of measuring airborne radioactivity at the low levels being encountered. Should the isotopic values increase, screening analyses may be resumed. analyzed. Sample results with filter retrieval dates after August 26, 2014 will be archived. below the instrument minimum detectable concentration. The dose at this location is
Air Sampling - Location 2 Screening Analyses dpm/sample Bq/sample (mrem) 2 8/12/14-8/26/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 7/8/14-8/5/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 6/18/14-7/1/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 6/10/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 6/3/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 5/27/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 5/20/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 5/13/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 5/6/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 4/29/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 4/22/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 4/15/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 4/8/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 4/1/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 3/25/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 3/18/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 3/11/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 3/4/2014 4.9 0.082 0.3 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 2/26/2014 2.5 0.041 0.2 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 2 2/17/2014 4.4 0.073 0.3 0.61 0.010 0.04 Note regarding screening results: Screening is no longer being routinely performed by DOE. Screening was important when the potential for contamination was high, immediately after the event. Screening results have returned to normal background levels so screening has been discontinued in order to facilitate timelier laboratory isotopic Laboratory isotopic analysis is the only reliable way of measuring airborne radioactivity at the low levels being encountered. Should the isotopic values increase, screening analyses may be resumed. analyzed. Sample results with filter retrieval dates after August 26, 2014 will be archived. below the instrument minimum detectable concentration. The dose at this location is
Air Sampling - Location 3 Screening Analyses dpm/sample Bq/sample (mrem) 3 8/12/14-8/26/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 7/8/14-8/5/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 6/18/14-7/1/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 6/10/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 6/3/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 5/27/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 5/20/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 5/13/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 5/6/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 4/29/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 4/22/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 4/15/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 4/8/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 4/1/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 3/25/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 3/18/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 3/11/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 3/4/2014 3.3 0.054 0.2 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 2/26/2014 2.2 0.037 0.2 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 3 2/17/2014 3.7 0.062 0.2 0.13 0.0021 0.009 Note regarding screening results: Screening is no longer being routinely performed by DOE. Screening was important when the potential for contamination was high, immediately after the event. Screening results have returned to normal background levels so screening has been discontinued in order to facilitate timelier laboratory isotopic Laboratory isotopic analysis is the only reliable way of measuring airborne radioactivity at the low levels being encountered. Should the isotopic values increase, screening analyses may be resumed. analyzed. Sample results with filter retrieval dates after August 26, 2014 will be archived. below the instrument minimum detectable concentration. The dose at this location is
Air Sampling - Location 4 Screening Analyses dpm/sample Bq/sample (mrem) 4 8/12/14-8/26/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 7/8/14-8/5/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 6/18/14-7/1/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 6/10/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 6/3/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 5/27/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 5/20/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 5/13/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 5/6/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 4/29/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 4/22/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 4/15/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 4/8/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 4/1/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 3/25/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 3/18/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 3/11/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 3/4/2014 5.5 0.092 0.4 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 2/26/2014 2.6 0.043 0.2 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 4 2/18/2014 2.7 0.045 0.2 Below MDC Below MDC N/C Note regarding screening results: Screening is no longer being routinely performed by DOE. Screening was important when the potential for contamination was high, immediately after the event. Screening results have returned to normal background levels so screening has been discontinued in order to facilitate timelier laboratory isotopic Laboratory isotopic analysis is the only reliable way of measuring airborne radioactivity at the low levels being encountered. Should the isotopic values increase, screening analyses may be resumed. analyzed. Sample results with filter retrieval dates after August 26, 2014 will be archived. below the instrument minimum detectable concentration. The dose at this location is
Air Sampling - Location 5 Screening Analyses dpm/sample Bq/sample (mrem) 5 8/12/14-8/26/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 7/8/14-8/5/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 6/18/14-7/1/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 6/10/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 6/3/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 5/27/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 5/20/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 5/13/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 5/6/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 4/29/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 4/22/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 4/15/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 4/8/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 4/1/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 3/25/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 3/18/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 3/11/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 3/4/2014 5.5 0.092 0.4 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 2/26/2014 1.1 0.019 0.07 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 5 2/17/2014 4.2 0.070 0.3 0.26 0.0043 0.02 Note regarding screening results: Screening is no longer being routinely performed by DOE. Screening was important when the potential for contamination was high, immediately after the event. Screening results have returned to normal background levels so screening has been discontinued in order to facilitate timelier laboratory isotopic Laboratory isotopic analysis is the only reliable way of measuring airborne radioactivity at the low levels being encountered. Should the isotopic values increase, screening analyses may be resumed. analyzed. Sample results with filter retrieval dates after August 26, 2014 will be archived. below the instrument minimum detectable concentration. The dose at this location is
Air Sampling - Location 6 Screening Analyses dpm/sample Bq/sample (mrem) 6 8/12/14-8/26/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 7/8/14-8/5/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 6/17/14-7/1/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 6/10/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 6/3/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 5/27/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 5/20/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 5/13/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 5/6/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 4/29/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 4/22/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 4/15/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 4/8/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 4/1/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 3/25/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 3/18/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 3/11/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 3/4/2014 7.1 0.12 0.5 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 2/26/2014 2.2 0.037 0.2 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 6 2/18/2014 1.6 0.027 0.1 Below MDC Below MDC N/C Note regarding screening results: Screening is no longer being routinely performed by DOE. Screening was important when the potential for contamination was high, immediately after the event. Screening results have returned to normal background levels so screening has been discontinued in order to facilitate timelier laboratory isotopic Laboratory isotopic analysis is the only reliable way of measuring airborne radioactivity at the low levels being encountered. Should the isotopic values increase, screening analyses may be resumed. analyzed. Sample results with filter retrieval dates after August 26, 2014 will be archived. below the instrument minimum detectable concentration. The dose at this location is
Air Sampling - Location 7 Screening Analyses dpm/sample Bq/sample (mrem) 7 8/12/14-8/26/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 7/8/14-8/5/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 6/17/14-7/1/14 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 6/10/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 6/3/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 5/27/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 5/20/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 5/13/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 5/6/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 4/29/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 4/22/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 4/15/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 4/8/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 4/1/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 3/25/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 3/18/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 3/11/2014 --- --- --- Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 3/4/2014 6.7 0.11 0.4 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 2/26/2014 2.7 0.044 0.2 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 7 2/18/2014 1.3 0.022 0.1 Below MDC Below MDC N/C Note regarding screening results: Screening is no longer being routinely performed by DOE. Screening was important when the potential for contamination was high, immediately after the event. Screening results have returned to normal background levels so screening has been discontinued in order to facilitate timelier laboratory isotopic Laboratory isotopic analysis is the only reliable way of measuring airborne radioactivity at the low levels being encountered. Should the isotopic values increase, screening analyses may be resumed. analyzed. Sample results with filter retrieval dates after August 26, 2014 will be archived. below the instrument minimum detectable concentration. The dose at this location is
Air Sampling - Location 8 8 8/12/14-8/26/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 7/8/14-8/5/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 6/18/14-7/1/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 6/10/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 6/3/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 5/27/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 5/20/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 5/13/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 5/6/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 4/29/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 4/22/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 4/15/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 4/8/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 4/1/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 3/25/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 3/18/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 8 3/11/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C
Air Sampling - Location 9 9 8/12/14-8/26/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 7/8/14-8/5/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 6/18/14-7/1/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 6/10/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 6/3/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 5/27/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 5/20/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 5/13/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 5/6/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 4/29/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 4/22/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 4/15/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 4/8/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 4/1/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 3/25/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 3/18/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 9 3/11/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C
Air Sampling - Location 10 10 8/12/14-8/26/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 7/8/14-8/5/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 6/18/14-7/1/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 6/10/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 6/3/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 5/27/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 5/20/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 5/13/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 5/6/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 4/29/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 4/22/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 4/15/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 4/8/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 4/1/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 3/25/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 3/18/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 10 3/11/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C
Air Sampling - Location 11 11 8/12/14-8/26/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 7/8/14-8/5/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 6/18/14-7/1/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 6/10/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 6/3/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 5/27/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 5/20/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 5/13/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 5/6/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 4/29/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 4/22/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 4/15/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 4/8/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 11 4/1/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C Air Sampling - Location 12 12 8/12/14-8/26/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 12 7/8/14-8/5/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 12 6/17/14-7/1/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 12 6/10/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 12 6/3/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 12 5/27/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 12 5/20/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 12 5/13/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 12 5/6/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 12 4/29/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 12 4/22/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 12 4/15/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C
Air Sampling - Location 13 13 8/12/14-8/26/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 13 7/8/14-8/5/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 13 6/17/14-7/1/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 13 6/10/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 13 6/3/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 13 5/27/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 13 5/20/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 13 5/13/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 13 5/6/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 13 4/29/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 13 4/22/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 13 4/15/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C Air Sampling - Location 14 14 8/12/14-8/27/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 14 7/8/14-8/5/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 14 6/17/14-7/1/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 14 6/10/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 14 6/3/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 14 5/27/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 14 5/20/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 14 5/13/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 14 5/6/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 14 4/29/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 14 4/22/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 14 4/15/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C
Air Sampling - Location 15 15 8/12/14-8/26/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 15 7/8/14-8/5/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 15 6/18/14-7/1/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 15 6/10/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 15 6/3/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 15 5/27/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 15 5/20/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 15 5/13/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 15 5/6/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 15 4/29/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 15 4/22/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 15 4/15/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C Air Sampling - Location 16 16 8/12/14-8/26/14 Below MDC Below MDC N/C 16 8/5/2014 Below MDC Below MDC N/C Note regarding isotopic analysis: July (includes only one filter) and August monthly filter composites will be analyzed. Sample results with filter retrieval dates after August 26, 2014 will be archived. As needed, samples will be removed from the archive and sent to WIPP Labs for isotopic
Active DOE Air Sampling Sites Off Limits Area 1 12 8 14 9 10 11 2 3 16 Eddy County 6 13 5 Lea County 4 15 7 0 2.5 5 10 15 20 Miles